Table 2 Students’ initial expectations about the use of Twitter in higher education

Statement

M (SD)

t(58)

p-value (test value = 3.5)

M (SD)

t(56)

p-value (test value = 3.5)

Twitter can be an interesting tool for instruction.

3.49 (0.95)

−0.07

.95

3.33 (1.07)

−1.17

.25

Twitter can be interesting to get insight into fellow students‘opinions.

4.54 (0.80)*

10.07

.00

4.53 (0.93)*

8.35

.00

Twitter can be interesting to get insight into teachers’ opinions.

4.66 (0.84)*

10.58

.00

4.63 (0.93)*

9.11

.00

Twitter can be interesting to learn how to formulate your own opinion.

3.78 (1.18)

1.83

.07

3.72 (1.32)

1.26

.22

140 characters is not enough to react on an educational topic.

3.80 (1.23)

1.85

.07

3.65 (1.23)

.914

.37

Twitter can affect the productivity within learning and instruction.

3.08 (0.77)*

−4.13

.00

3.05 (0.83)*

−4.06

.00

Twitter can increase the flexibility within learning and instruction.

3.90 (0.92)*

3.32

.00

3.84 (0.84)*

3.07

.00

Twitter can favor the boundaries between students (i.e., group cohesion).

3.39 (1.00)

−0.85

.40

3.40 (0.99)

−0.73

.47

Twitter can make me more connected with the teacher and teaching assistants.

3.61 (0.91)

0.93

.36

3.67 (1.3)

0.97

.34

Twitter can close the gap between formal and informal learning.

4.17 (0.75)*

6.89

.00

4.23 (0.89)*

6.20

.00

Twitter is a good tool to keep posted about educational topics.

4.42 (0.95)*

7.46

.00

4.74 (0.99)*

9.42

.00

Twitter gives you the opportunity to follow important people.

4.83 (0.81)*

12.58

.00

4.88 (0.83)*

12.60

.00

Twitter can be a good tool to become acquainted with relevant expertise in our field.

4.02 (0.96)*

4.16

.00

4.30 (0.93)*

6.52

.00

Using Twitter in education can fade the border between education and private life.

4.10 (1.08)*

4.29

.00

4.35 (1.04)*

6.16

.00

Twitter can be a good tool to learn how to filter information.

3.59 (1.12)

0.64

.52

3.77 (0.91)*

2.26

.03

Twitter can be helpful to open your critical mind about education-related topics.

3.75 (1.18)

1.60

.12

4.21 (0.99)*

5.39

.00

Twitter can be helpful to broaden my professional network.

3.97 (0.96)*

3.71

.00

3.96 (0.98)*

3.58

.00

The added value of Twitter depends on how you personally deal with it.

5.32 (0.88)*

15.91

.00

5.12 (0.85)*

14.47

.00